See you at the movies…
I’ve been meaning to write about several movies I have seen in recent years for quite some time now but was either too lazy or too busy (futile excuses, I know). I didn’t realize that they had piled up already, so I decided to put them all together in a short post. I remember back in the day, we used to go to the cinema about 1–2 times a week (well, not all the time), but now it’s reduced to 1–2 times a year LOL. Of course, the pandemic happened, so it was inevitable. But with the plethora of streaming sites, watching from the comforts of our homes became the norm. Plus, rising ticket prices are enough to discourage me from going to the cinema (not to mention buying popcorn and soda too). There’s no overarching theme or connection with the movies I’ve selected, other than they fall under the drama film genre. I would like to apologize in advance, though, as I’ve seen these movies quite some time already, I’ve forgotten many details. I thought of putting these out here in case someone might want some recommendations. Hence, these are just brief reviews or reactions.
1. CODA, 2021
The first on my list is CODA, which is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy/drama/musical film written and directed by Sian Heder. It is actually a remake of the 2014 French-Belgian film La Famille Bélier. Emilia Jones shined brightly as Ruby Rossi, the child of deaf adults (CODA) and the only hearing member of the family (her brother is also deaf). She tries her best to juggle her responsibilities: being an interpreter for her family, especially in their faltering fishing business and chasing her dream of becoming a singer, while also fumbling towards a blossoming romance. I think it was interesting that Jones is a British actress and the film was set in Gloucester, Massachusetts. From what I can remember, I didn’t think there were any slips in her accent. Before the commencement of production, she also had to learn American Sign Language (ASL) and take singing lessons. The film also boasts a superb soundtrack. I enjoyed Jones’ rendition of the Joni Mitchell classic, “Both Sides, Now.” I even got teary-eyed in her audition for Berklee College of Music. The rest of the cast also gave astounding performances. If you want a film where they portray the difficulties of deaf people authentically, I think this is it, as Troy Kotsur (who played Ruby’s father in the film), Marlee Matlin (her mother), and Daniel Duran (her brother) are all deaf actors. I truly admire the whole cast!
While you might feel that this is melodramatic, a lot of the scenes offer some comic relief, thanks to Ruby’s horny parents. I wish I could say more about this brilliant film, as it left me with a warm feeling after watching and also throughout the whole movie, but so much time has passed since I’ve seen it. I think part of the appeal to me is that it hits close to home; I know how it feels to sacrifice for one’s family. One criticism that people might have of the film, though, is that Jones is not a CODA in real life. For me, however, she did a fantastic job.
Overall, this is a movie that would make you cry and laugh, then leave you smiling at the end.
2. A Man Called Otto, 2022
I had been wanting to read and watch this ever since hearing about it. Tom Hanks plays the titular role. Like the previous film, this is also a remake, but this time of a 2015 Swedish film, A Man Called Ove, which was based on the 2012 novel by Fredrik Backman. It’s directed by Marc Forster from a screenplay by David Magee. Otto Anderson is a grumpy old man who lost the will to live after the passing of his beloved wife, Sonya (Rachel Keller). He attempted suicide several times but managed to fail each time. He is a stickler for rules, going around the neighborhood, pointing out grievances and minor misdemeanors. To be honest, this character coincidentally reminds me of someone, which what got me interested in watching it in the first place. LOL. But as much as Tom Hanks is a seasoned actor playing a bitter, hard-headed, angry person, you can’t really hate on him because, well, he’s Tom Hanks. Soon after, I was introduced to his well-meaning neighbors who just moved into the house in front of his. And it’s the start of an unlikely friendship between him and the very pregnant Marisol (Mariana Treviño). Her cheerful, chatty character is the complete opposite to his doom and gloom one, and many times he just wanted to be left alone, but Marisol was persistent. Hanks and Treviño’s chemistry was undeniable in this film, and it was a delight to watch them together. There were flashbacks throughout the film, which would make the audience realize what had transpired to make Otto so cold and aloof. It’s rarely as simple as it seems. The film is about loss, regrets, hope, second chances, redemption, and finding meaning and purpose in life once again. As with the other movie, I wish I could add some more as this also took me on a roller coaster of emotions, but I had seen it quite some time ago.
This first two films are fictional, but the next two are based on true stories.
3. The Swimmers, 2022
“You know, Olympians are people who are supposed to do amazing things. Remember what Baba used to say? ‘Find your lane. Swim your race.’ It’s all bull****. You should swim for all of us. You should swim for Baba because he didn’t. Swim for me because I couldn’t. Swim for Sven because he couldn’t. Swim for Shada. Swim for Razan Haddad. And for everyone who died trying to find a new life. Swim for them. You’re so much more than an Olympian.”
That’s just one of the memorable quotes I got from the movie. This is a biopic of two amazing sisters from Damascus, Syria, Sara Mardini and Yusra Mardini, played by real-life sisters, Manal Issa and Nathalie Issa. It was directed by Sally El Hosaini from a screenplay that was co-written with Jack Thorne. Following the death of their friend because of the civil war and another one fleeing for safety to another country, the sisters had a hard time convincing their father to let them go with their cousin to Germany and apply for family reunification since Yusra was still below 18. From then, they had to ride a plane, share a failing dinghy with 18 other people, swim across the sea for hours, walk a long way, ride a car, ride a bus, and others just to get to Germany. Let me backtrack a little, their harrowing journey didn’t end when they reached Greece. They still had to endure being turned away, discriminated, tricked, and even almost raped. But throughout the film, we could also see the camaraderie among the refugees, how they looked out for each other. There were also UNHCR volunteers giving out clean clothes, food, and supplies.
Finally, they were able to reach their destination, where their paths inevitably diverged. One desired to pursue her dream of representing Syria in the Olympics. The other, being aware of the plight of refugees and how blessed they were to be able to make it, wanted to return to Lesbos. I don’t want to get into the details from this point on, as I’ve already divulged a lot of spoilers, but I think many already know the events of the story. This is a movie about determination, perseverance, and pursuing your dreams, but it’s much more than that. It’s also about the bigger humanitarian crisis that refugees and migrants had to struggle with.
The bond shared by the sisters shined throughout the film. There were scenes in which I felt they didn’t even have to act at all, as everything came out naturally for them, like when they were just goofing around and having fun, bantering, or arguing. I was also touched by the older sister’s support and love for her sister from the beginning until the end, keeping her promise to their father that she would take care of her, even though there was also a pang because of their father’s obvious favoritism. (There was a scene, though, where the younger sister felt abandoned by her.)
I would like to commend the cinematography of this film. The juxtaposition of conflicting scenes, such as the fireworks in Rio for the opening night of the Olympics, and the flashing lights while the sisters struggle to stay afloat in the Aegean Sea, provided a stark contrast. One scene depicted pure joy, while the other, terror. The underwater scenes were also shot so beautifully. There were scenes where the sounds were muted to emphasize what was going on or to build up surprise. In another scene, they walked through a sea of brightly-colored life vests, to signify that many others had come before them.
4. Green Book, 2018
This is the oldest of the bunch but the most recent one I’ve seen. Green Book is a biographical comedy/musical film directed by Peter Farrelly. It is set in the early 1960s, during the dark era of racial discrimination and segragation against Black Americans. The title comes from the The Negro Motorist Green Book, which is a travel guide for African Americans to aid them in looking for safe routes and accommodations. Just like the previous film I talked about, A Man Called Otto, this also chronicles the unlikely friendship between the two main characters. This time it’s about Dr. Don Shirley, a world-class African American pianist, played by Mahershala Ali, and Tony “Lip” Vallelonga, an Italian American bouncer (who later became an actor) from the Bronx, played by Viggo Mortensen. Tony was hired as Don Shirley’s chauffer and bodyguard as he goes on a concert tour in the Deep South. Tony’s prejudice is apparent at the beginning of the film, from calling the Black plumbers “eggplants” and throwing the glasses that they used in the trash can, which his wife later retrieved, to not handing the sandwich his wife made for Don Shirley. He was also reluctant to take the job at first, he was in shock that a Black American is a prestigious musician, which might have taken a shot at his ego, but had to take the offer due to financial reasons. As the story unfolds, though, and as Tony spends more and more time with Don Shirley, his perspectives gradually shift as he forms a deep bond with Dr. Shirley, and becomes aware of the injustices faced by African Americans. The two men couldn’t be any more different, while Dr. Shirley was so refined and could always maintain his composure despite the discrimination he had to endure, Tony was always ready for a fight. Though the duo’s partnership may seem absurd to an outsider, their friendship flourishes as they navigate all of the mishaps together, while also learning from each other’s cultures and society. In their journey, they realized that they were not so different after all, ultimately forming a lasting friendship built on mutual respect and understanding.
There are many instances in the film that your heart would really go out to Dr. Shirley. He was a genius in what he did and his presence commands respect, but he still had to suffer from racism and humiliation. In one scene, Tony teaches Dr. Shirley how to play pool in a predominantly black neighborhood, leading to a confrontation with locals who question Dr. Shirley’s authenticity as a black man. He wasn’t black enough for them, but he wasn’t fully accepted in his social circles as well for being black. It must be a very precarious situation for him.
There are many humorous scenes, including Dr. Shirley dictating long, eloquent letters to Tony for his wife as he was having trouble expressing his love to her and the incessant banter between Dr. Shirley and Tony.
But with all the praises and awards for this film (Mahershala Ali won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, which is already his second win for the same category, the first one being for Moonlight), it also had its share of controversies and criticisms. Ali even apologized to Dr. Shirley’s living relatives because they had some issues with the portrayal of his character. Critics also blasted the movie for its white savior trope.
However, there are also some cases that Dr. Shirley’s intelligence and social skills come to Tony’s rescue, such as when Tony experienced hostility due to his Italian heritage in a bar, and Dr. Shirley smoothly shifted their focus away from him and towards the universality of music. I think this film is not about one man always saving the other but about their reciprocal relationship.
There you have it, the four films I’ve seen in recent years that have resonated with me. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
Originally published at http://gingaquino.wordpress.com on May 24, 2024.
